Dispensing apparatus



Oct. 25, 1960 Filed March 21, 1958 D. D. MICHEL DISPENSING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

do BY. 1 ,Za

Oct. 25, 1960 Filed March 21, 1958 D. D. MICHEL 2,957,610

DISPENSING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 n MM Mk: @5.

. jutage.

United States Patent.

DISPENSING APPARATUS David Daniel Michel, 39 S. La Salle St., Chicago, Ill.

Filed Mar. 21, 1958, Ser. No. 722,884

9 Claims. (Cl. 222394) This invention relates to dispensing apparatus and more particularly to a dispensing valve assembly which is used in conjunction with pressurizedconta-iners for dispensing fluent materials.

This valve assembly is particularly adapted foruse with portable containers such asare used-for whipping cream, shaving cream and the like, and the invention may best be described in connection with such containers. It is, however, to be understood that this invention is not limited to any specific type of container or to any particular material or ultimate use.

It is one particular object of this invention'to provide a dispensing apparatus which will permit the simple and easy dispensingof :fiuent materials from a container.

It is another object of this invention to provide a dispensing apparatus which willpermit thefiuent material held in a container to be dispensed therefrom in a foamed or aerated condition.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide a dispensing apparatus which is veryinexpensive and which is disposable with the container with which it is used when the materials are completely exhausted therefrom.

It .is another object of this invention to provide a dispensing apparatus of simplified construction which may be produced easily and inexpensively in large quantit1es.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a dispensing apparatus which may be easily and quickly assembled and attached to the container with which it is to be used.

Other objects may be seen and a fuller understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the following description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In accordance with one embodiment of this invention, dispensing apparatus is provided for use with a container having a base and an oppositely disposed open end. This apparatus is disposed in an apertured mounting cup, the peripheral portions of which are adapted to sealingly engage the container adjacent the open end thereof. An elongate apertured adjutage vor efllux tube which is capable of resilient deformation is sealing-1y disposed within the aperture of the cup. A valve seat portion is provided at one end of the adjutage circumjacent the aperture, and a shoulder-like formation is disposed within the aperture.

A plug member is provided having an elongate body portion which is disposed within the aperture of the adjutage. The plug member also has a transversely extending head portion which is integral with the body portion and is adapted to sealingly engage the valve seat portion of the ad- A resilient tensioning member'having' a projecting formation thereon is connected to and is preferably integral with the body portion of the plug-member. Thisprojecting formation is latchingly engaged with the 2,957,610 Patented Oct. 25, .1960

shoulder of the adjutage. Thus engaged, the tensioning member is effective to urge the plug member axially in a direction which will result in sealing engagement of the head portion thereof and the valve seat portion of the adjutage.

One particular feature of this invention is the novel structural design which permits a simplified three-piece construction for the entire valve assembly. The plug member and tensioning member may be, and preferably are, moulded integrally as a single element. The disice pensing assembly is greatly simplified and improved behead 16 of the container.

aperture-defining flange.

cause of this mass produceable, pre-assembled, integral element and the production and assembly costs are reduced significantly.

For a more complete understanding of this invention reference is now made to the drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a container in which the dispensing apparatus of this invention is incorporated;

' v Fig. 2 is an enlarged. sectional view of a dispensing apparatus illustrating one embodiment of this invention;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 2 showing the adjutage in position for discharge;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the apparatus illustrated in-Fig. 2 taken substantially along line 44 of Fig. 2;

Fig. '5 is an enlarged side elevational view of the plug member and resilient tensioning member of Fig. 2;

Figs 6 is a top plan view of the plug member and re- "silient tensioning member;

' Fig. 7 is a front elevational view of the plug member and a modified resilient tensioning member;

Fig. 8 is a side elevational view of the plug member and the modified tensioning member illustrated in Fig. 7;

- and Fig. 11 is a side elevational view of the modified tensioning member illustrated in Fig. 10.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, a dispensing valve assembly 10 may be mounted within a container 11 having a base 12 and an oppositely disposed open end 14. Container --11.has a peripheral bead 16 surrounding the aperture in end 14 as may be best seen in Figs. 2 and 3. The dispensing valve assembly 10 is disposed Within this aperture and includes a mounting cup 18 which seats transversely in the end 14 and has a peripheral lip portion 18a which extends upwardly and outwardly over the A resilient material 20 may be provided between. the lip 18a and bead 16 to effect a fluid-tight seal therebetween. Interior portions 18b of the mounting cup are upturned to provide an Disposed within the thus-defined aperture in mounting cup 18 is an elongate resilient adjutage 22. v

Adjutage 22 is constructed of a resilient material and has an aperture 22a which extends the entire length thereof and is disposed centrally therein. Circumjacent aperture 22a at one end of adjutage 22 is a valve seat portion 24 which has an outwardly extending annular web or flange portion 26 in sealing abutment with the underside of mounting cup 18. Disposed within aperture 22a of the adjutage and spaced from valve seat portion 24 is shoulder 28. This shoulder is preferably an annular,

inwardly extending formation, the purpose of'which will be hereinafter explained.

An annular groove or recess 30 is formed in the exterior surface of adjutage 22 intermediate shoulder 28 and valve seat portion 24. The thinner cross section'of the adjutage at this point permits greater resilient movement thereof during actuation. The wall thickness of the remaining portions of the adjutage is such that comparativ'ely' little resilient movement is permitted during actuation. The outer end or tip 38 of the adjutage is serrated and crown-shaped to give the foamed materials emerging therefrom a decorative efiect.

Plug member 40 comprises an annular disc-like head 42 and an elongated body 44. Head 42 is transversely disposed with respect to the aperture 22a in the adjutage and is adapted to sealingly mate with valve seat portion 24 to prevent fluid from passing through the aperture. Body 44 is connected to and is preferably integral with head 42. This element is disposed within aperture 22a to provide a restricted passage therearound, and it may be substantially cylindrical, the diameter being such that an annular passageway circumjacent this element will remain in the aperture 22a. The diameter however should be sufiicient to insure that the body will be relatively stilf as compared to the adjutage. This desired rigidity may be alternatively obtained by means of an insert of metal or other stiff material.

As may be seen'from Fig. 2, body 44 is preferably tapered adjacent head 42 to insure that the materials will freely flow from the container 11 into the surrounding space immediately upon opening of the valve.

Connected to and preferably integral with the end of body 44 opposite head 42 is a sinuous resilient tensioning member 48. This member is more slender, i.e., it is of smaller average transverse cross-sectional area than plug member 40 and may conveniently be constructed of the same material. The sinuous configuration and smaller cross section causes this member to be very resilient and spring-like. Integral with tensioning member 48 and disposed adjacent one end thereof are two oppositely disposed, transversely extending, resilient formations or projections 50 and a surmounted, easilygraspable, enlarged annular element 52 in the nature of a crown. Element 52 and transversely extending projections 50 are connected by a smooth, sloping cam surface 54 which facilitates assembly of the apparatus and strengthens it by directionally rigidifying and supporting projections 50.

In assembling the dispensing apparatus, the adjutage 22 may be forced upwardly into the aperture of mounting cup 18 until flange 26 abuts the underside thereof and upturned cup flange 18b is locked within a slight peripheral groove below recess 30 in the adjutage. Plug member 40 and resilient tensioning member 48 connected thereto may then be inserted into the aperture 22a of the adjutage from the end adjacent the valve seat portion 24. The easily-graspable element 52, which when the plug member is thus inserted will extend above annular shoulder 28, may be grasped by a simple forked tool (not shown) and the projections 50 may be pulled through the restriction formed by shoulder 28 until they engage the upper surface thereof. The sloping surface 54 permits gentle, resilient, radial compression of projections 50 during their upward passage through the restricted area of annular shoulder 28. Moreover, this surface supports the projections 50 after their engagement with shoulder 28, preventing any subsequent cornpression and disengagement of these projections or any accompanying downward axial movement of this end of tensioning member 48. Annular shoulder 28 is so spaced from valve seat portion 24 that when the plug member 40 and tensioning member 48 are inserted within aperture 22a and annular head 42 of the plug member has been .placed in sealing engagement with the valve seat 24 of the adjutage, tensioning member 48 must extend from its relaxed position approximately several thousandths of an inch in order to permit the latching engagement of outwardly extending projections 50 with shoulder 28. Thus tensioning member 48 constantly urges plug member 40 axially upward in aperture 22a to effect sealing engagement between the head portion 42 and the valve seat portion 24. The normal position for this preloaded valve is therefore the closed position as shown in Fig. 1. Also body portion 44 should be elongate, i.e., of such length that in all positions of actuation and closure a portion thereof extends above groove 30. As will be seen this feature facilitates the opening or actuation of the valve.

The apparatus having thus been assembled, the materials may be placed in the container 11, and mounting cup 18 may be placed in the open end 14. The portion thereof adjacent lip 18a is then spun under bead 16 of the container. A gas nozzle having an adapter fitting for adjutage 22 is positioned and gas is supplied to the container through aperture 22a. The head 44 and valve seat 24 are separated and the valve is thus opened by the pressure difierential of the gas supply against the resistance of tensioning member 48. The members remain separated until the pressure in container 11 approaches that of the supply at which time the valve closes. The gas nozzle is then removed and the dispenser is ready for use.

In order to dispense the materials from container 11, the container is first inverted. The valve is then actuated by pressure applied radially to the outwardly extending portion of adjutage-22 as represented by the arrow in Fig. 3. This causes the adjutage to extend in the area of recess or groove 30 on the side on which the pressure is being applied and to be slightly compressed on the diametrically opposite side of this groove as may be seen in Fig. 3. This movement of the adjutage results in 'an accompanying radial tilting movement of plug member 40 (aided by the length of body portion 44) which causes separation of portions of the head 42 from the corresponding previously-engaged portions of valve seat 24 and the materials under pressure within container 11 are thus permitted to move into the aperture 22a.

In flowing through aperture 22a the material first passes through the annular space surrounding the tapered portion of the body adjacent head 42. The material then flows upward through the restricted passageway surrounding the cylindrical upper portion of body 44 and emerges from this annular area into the relatively less restricted area circumjacent resilient tensioning member 48. This expansion into the latter area produces foaming action by the expansion and release of the dissolved and entrapped gas and the mixing of the fluent material therewith. The material is then dispensed through decorating tip 38 in a richly foamed condition.

A number of modifications may be made in the apparatus disclosed without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

As illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8 the resilient tensioning member 48a may be spiralled or convoluted and the shoulder-engaging formations may be in the form of elongated inwardly (downwardly in the drawing) sloping resilient fingers 50a. Fingers 50a are supported on a central post 54 which is preferably integral with tensioning member 48a and extends outwardly (upwardly in the drawing) therefrom. These fingers are urged inwardly when the crown 52 is drawn through the shoulder 28 as already described with regard to Fig. 2. When the fingers 50a are pulled through the adjutage 22 to a position beyond shoulder 28, the ends of the fingers rest on the outer annular surface defined by the shoulder.

In Fig. 9 another modification is shown in which the shoulder-engaging formations again are in the form of elongate rearwardly sloping fingers 50b. The engaging end of one of these fingers however is integrally connected to the tensioning member 48 which is S shaped as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 5 and already described in detail. The same assembly procedure is followed as deassists E V J scribed with regard to the embodiments of Figs. 2 and 7. However the fingers 50b will tilt at an angle to pass through shoulder 28 and the finger 50b on the right in Fig. 9 will be collapsed somewhat. Upon passing through the shoulder the formation will return to a substantially erect position when the ofiset 56 and the free end of finger 50b will engage the upper wall of shoulder 28.

Still another possible modification of this portion of the apparatus is shown in Figs. 10 and 11. Two S- shaped tensioning member elements 480 and 48c are provided. These elements have transversely extending downwardly sloping end portions 50c and 500' respectively which are adapted to latchingly engage shoulder 28 in the aperture of the adjutage. Integral with and extending upwardly from tensioning members 480 and 48c are crown lugs 52c and 52c respectively. These lugs may be easily grasped with a tool (not shown) and resiliently pinched together. This grasping-pinching movement results in the corresponding retracting and rising movement of end portions 500 and 50c so that they may pass through a restriction such as that provided by shoulder 28 and be disposed thereabove. Upon release of lugs 52c and 520 the sloping end portions 50c and 500' will return to the normal position illustrated in Fig. 10. In this position the ends will engage the outer surface of shoulder 28 drawing the head 42 against seat 24 with a predetermined pressure.

It will be understood that the tensioning member is herein described as sinous and this term is meant to include all of the various forms illustrated and their equivalents. The spring-like properties of the tensioning member may be attributed in part to the sinuous construction and in part to the relative slenderness.

As shown in Figs. through 11, the plug member and tensioning member are preferably formed as an integral element in a single molding operation. This combined element together with the adjutage 22 which is also formed in asingle molding operation and the mounting cup 18 provide an easily assembled, simple, inexpensive and completely disposable dispensing apparatus which will effectively dispense materials in a decoratively foamed condition.

Although the invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the detail of construction and the arrangement of parts may be resorted .to without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A dispensing apparatus for use with a container having a base and an oppositely disposed open end, said apparatus comprising an apertured mounting cup, peripheral portions of which are adapted to sealingly engage the container adjacent the open end thereof, an elongate apertured resilient adjutage sealingly disposed within the aperture of said mounting cup and having a valve seat portion and an integral shoulder spaced from said valve seat portion and disposed within the aperture of said adjutage, a plug member having an elongate body portion disposed within the aperture of said adjutage to define a passageway therethrough and having a transversely extending head portion adapted to sealingly engage said valve seat portion, and a sinuous resilient tensioning member integral with the body portion of said plug member, said tensioning member having a formation thereon in latching engagement with said shoulder in the aperture of said adjutage and being effective to urge said plug member in a direction toward sealing engagement of the head portion thereof with the valve seat portion of said adjutage.

2. A dispensing apparatus for use with a container having a base and an oppositely disposed open end, said apparatus comprising an apertured mounting cup, pc-

ripheral portions of which are adapted to sealingly engage the container adjacent the open end thereof, an elongate apertured resilient adjutage sealingly disposed within the aperture of said mounting cup and having a valve seat portion, and a spaced shoulder within the aperture of said adjutage, a plug member having an elongate body and an integral transversely extending annular head, the body of saidplug memberbeing substantially cylindrical, said bodybeing disposed within the aperture of said adjutage to define a passageway therethrough and said head being adapted to sealingly mate with said valve seat portion, and a sinuous resilient tensioning member integral with the body portion of said plug member and being relatively slender with respect thereto, said tensioning member having a formation thereon in latching engagement with the shoulder in the aperture of said adjutage and being effective to urge said plug member in a direction toward sealing engagement of said head with the valve seat portion of said adjutage.

3. A dispensing apparatus for use with a container having a base and an oppositely disposed open end, said apparatus comprising an apertured mounting cup, peripheral portions of which are adapted to sealingly engage the container adjacent the open end thereof, an elongate apertured resilient adjutage sealingly disposed within the aperture of said mounting cup and having a valve seat portion and a spaced shoulder disposed within the aperture of said adjutage, a plug member having an elongate body portion disposed within the aperture of said adjutage to define a passageway therethrough and having a transversely extending head portion adapted to sealingly engage said valve seat portion, a sinuous resilient tensioning member integral with the body portion of said plug member and relatively slender with respect thereto, and a resilient. transversely extending element connected to said tensioning member and having a surmounted easily graspable portion and an intermediate sloping supporting surface, said transversely extending element being in latching engagement with the shoulder in the aperture of said adjutage and said tensioning member being effective to urge said plug member in a direction toward sealing engagement of the head portion thereof with the valve seat portion of said adjutage.

4. A dispensing apparatus for use with a container having a base and an oppositely disposed open end, said apparatus comprising an apertured mounting cup, peripheral portions of which are adapted to sealingly engage the container adjacent the open end thereof, an elongate apertured resilient adjutage sealingly disposed within the aperture of said mounting cup and having a valve seat portion and a spaced shoulder disposed within the aperture of said adjutage, a plug member having an elongate body and an integral transversely extending annular head, the body of said plug member being substantially cylindrical with a slight taper adjacent the head, said body being disposed Within the aperture of said adjutage to define a passageway therethrough and said head being adapted to sealingly mate with said valve seat portion, and a sinuous resilient tensioning member integral with the body portion of said plug member and relatively slender with respect thereto, said tensioning member having two oppositely disposed transversely extending resilient projections surmounted by an integral easily graspable element and an intermediate sloping supporting surface, said projections being in latching engagement with the shoulder in the aperture of said adjutage and said tensioning member being effective to urge said plug member in a direction toward sealing engagement of said head with the valve seat portion of said adjutage.

5. A dispensing apparatus for use with a container having a base and an oppositely disposed open end, said apparatus comprising an apertured mounting cup, peripheral portions of which are adapted to sealingly engage the container adjacent the open end thereof, an elongate apertured resilient adjutage sealingly disposed within the aperture of said mounting cup and having a valve seat portion and a shoulder spaced from said valve seat portion and disposed within the aperture of said adjutage, a plug member having'an elongate body portion disposed within the aperture of said adjutage to define a passageway therethrough, and having a transversely extending head portion adapted to sealingly engage said valve seat portion, a tensioning member including two resilient, sinuous elements, integral with the body portion of said plug member and relatively slender with respect thereto, the free ends of said elements extending inwardly and transversely in opposite directions to latchingly engage the shoulder in the aperture of said adjutage, each of said sinuous elements having adjacent its free end an integral easily-graspable outwardly extending lug for facilitating resilient movement of the free end during assembly of the apparatus, said tensioning member being effective to urge said plug member in a direction toward sealing engagement of the head portion thereof with the valve seat portion of said adjutage.

6. A dispensing apparatus for use with a container having a base and an oppositely disposed open end, said apparatus comprising an apertured mounting cup, peripheral portions of which are adapted to sealingly engage the container adjacent the open end thereof, an elongate apertured resilient adjutage sealingly disposed within the aperture of said mounting cup and having a valve seat portion and an integral shoulder spaced from said valve seat portion and disposed within the aperture of said adjutage, a plug member having an elongate body portion disposed within the aperture of said adjutage to define a passageway therethrough and having a transversely extending head portion adapted to sealingly engage said valve seat portion, a sinuous resilient tensioning member integral with the body portion of said plug member, an elongate post connected to said tensioning member and extending outwardly therefrom, a surmounted, outwardly extending, easily graspable crown connected to said post, and two elongate fingers connected to said post adjacent said crown and extending inwardly and transversely therefrom at an acute angle, said fingers being in latching engagement with the shoulder in the aperture of said adjutage, and said tensioning member being effective to urge said plug member in a direction toward sealing engagement of the head portion thereof with the valve seat portion of said adjutage.

7. A dispensing apparatus for use with a container having a base and an oppositely disposed open end, said apparatus comprising an apertured mounting cup, peripheral portions of which are adapted to sealingly engage the container adjacent the open end thereof, an elongate apertured resilient adjutage sealingly disposed within the aperture of said mounting cup and having a valve seat portion and an integral shoulder spaced from said valve seat portion and disposed within the aperture of said adjutage, a plug member having an elongate body portion disposed within the aperture of said adjutage to define a passageway therethrough and having a transversely extending head portion adapted to sealingly engage said valve seat portion, a sinuous resilient tensioning member integral with the body portion of said plug member, two joined, inwardly and transversely extending elongate fingers, one of said fingers being connected to said tensioning member, and a surmounted easily graspable crown, said fingers being in latching engagement with the shoulder in the aperture of said adjutage and said tensioning member being effective to urge said plug member in a direction toward sealing engagement of the head portion thereof with the valve seat portion of said adjutage.

8. A valve for use with an apertured container, said valve comprising an elongate apertured resilient adjutage sealingly disposed within the aperture of said container and an insert cooperating with said adjutage to selectively close the aperture through said adjutage, said adjutage having a valve seat portion and an integral shoulder spaced from said valve seat portion and disposed within the aperture of said adjutage; said insert comprising a plug member having an elongate body portion disposed within the aperture of said adjutage to define a passageway therethrough and a transversely extending head portion adapted to sealingly engage said valve seat portion, and a resilient tensioning member integral with the body portion of said plug member and being relatively slender with respect thereto, said tensioning member having two oppositely disposed transversely extending resilient projections surmounted by an easily graspable element and an intermediate sloping supporting surface, said projections being in latching engagement with the shoulder in the aperture of said adjutage and said tensioning member being efiective to urge said plug member in a direction toward sealing engagement of the head portion thereof with the valve seat portion of said adjutage.

9. A dispensing apparatus for use with a container having a base and an oppositely disposed open end, said apparatus comprising an apertured mounting cup, peripheral portions of which are adapted to sealingly engage the container adjacent the open end thereof, an elongate apertured resilient adjutage sealingly disposed within the aperture of said mounting cup and having a valve seat portion and a spaced shoulder disposed within the aperture of said adjutage, a plug member having an elongate relatively rigid body portion disposed within the aperture of said adjutage to define a passageway therethrough and having a transversely extending head portion adapted to sealingly engage said valve seat portion, and a resilient tensioning member integral with the body portion of said plug member and being relatively slender with respect thereto, said tensioning member having transversely extending resilient projection means in latching engagement with the shoulder in the aperture of said adjutage and being effective to urge said plug member in a direction toward sealing engagement of the head portion thereof with the valve seat portion of said adjutage.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,832,570 Montgomery Nov. 17, 1931 2,487,434 Geiss et al. Nov. 8, 1949 2,612,293 Michel Sept. 30, 1952 2,772,035 Collins et al. Nov. 27, 1956 

